China to Cut Price of Wind Power, PV

China is set to cut benchmark on-grid price of electricity generated by onshore wind power and photovoltaic power to promote a sound environment for the green-energy industry, the country’s top economic planner said on Thursday.

The benchmark price of onshore wind power in the first, second and third-grade resource areas will be reduced by 0.02 yuan, or 0.3 US cents, in 2016 and 0.03 yuan in 2018, the National Development and Reform Commission said in an online statement.

The price in fourth-grade resource areas will be cut by 0.01 yuan and 0.02 yuan in 2016 and 2018, respectively, said the NDRC.

Resource area grades identify the amount of a certain resource produced in a region and help determine the price for such products. A first-grade resource area would produce the most and hence generally have cheaper prices. Wind power grades range from first to fourth, while PV power ranges from first to third.

The benchmark price of PV power in the first grade resource area will be cut by 0.10 yuan in 2016. The second and third-grade resource areas will be cut by 0.07 yuan and 0.02 yuan respectively.

The move aims to promote effective new-energy investment and a sustainable and sound development of renewable-energy industry, according to the NDRC.

The State Council, China’s Cabinet, released an action plan on energy development for 2014-2020 in November, promising more efficient, self-sufficient, green and innovative energy production and consumption.